Lottery style game

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for playing a lottery style game. A player is offered electronic gaming tokens that provide a predetermined probability of winning monetary prizes and non-monetary prizes. The player then engages in an arcade style game which is adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of the arcade style game. The probability of winning money in the lottery style game, and the outcome of the arcade style game are independent of each other. The lottery style game and arcade style game may be played on a networked console in a gaming hall, on a personal computer or on any suitable hand held computing device.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for playing alottery style game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scratch-and-win style cards and pull-tab style cards have been usedextensively in lottery type games in which the purchaser acquires achance to win a prize, be it monetary or otherwise. The basic premise ofsuch cards is that within any fixed number of cards, there are a certainspecified number of winners. In this manner, a purchaser of the cards isguaranteed a certain probability of selecting a winning card. The gamingcompany can control both the probability of winning and the nature ofrewards offered for a winning card. The purchaser randomly selects oneor more cards that have the outcome physically concealed in some manner.When selecting the cards, the purchaser has no knowledge which arewinning cards, only that there is a certain probability of obtaining awinning card.

With scratch-and-win type cards, the purchaser is generally required tophysically remove a coating beneath which are symbols or languageindicating whether the card is a winning card or not. With pull-tabcards, the purchaser is generally required to physically break some sortof paper or card barrier, beneath which are symbols or languageindicating whether the card is a winning card or not.

Such cards have been produced in a variety of shapes and forms in theattempt to make them more entertaining for the purchaser. One commonlyemployed strategy involves a requirement that the purchaser revealportions of the card in a selective or sequential manner, therebyextending the playing process. However, despite such attempts, thepurchaser is only provided a few brief moments of excitement. Otherproblems with the use of physical cards include the limited ability tomonitor, track and control the sale and use of the cards, physicalwastage created by discarded cards and a limited ability to presentpurchasers with an interactive and stimulating playing experience.

The advent of computerized gaming presented the opportunity for gamingcompanies to create virtual electronic pull-tab cards andscratch-and-win cards. As with their physical counterparts, the virtualcards have a fixed probability of winning that can be manipulated by thevendor. Cards are dealt to the purchaser from a virtual deck. Usingcomputer graphics, virtual cards have been created that display theoutcome in more visually stimulating and interesting ways. Theelectronic cards also provide a greater ability to monitor and controlsales and usage, and eliminate the problem of physical wastage. However,as with the physical cards, no matter how one configures the cards, thepurchaser is only presented with a brief and limited period ofexcitement and entertainment.

There have been attempts to link arcade style games with virtual lotterycards to try and present a purchaser with a more entertainingexperience. In particular, lottery type games have been developedwhereby the purchaser acquires a gaming unit which then allows them toplay an arcade style game, the outcome of which is dependent on whetherthe gaming unit is a winning unit or not. The purchaser plays the arcadestyle game, at the end of which the outcome of success in the lotterygame is revealed. However, the arcade style games in such a system havelimited entertainment value and provide the user with limitedstimulation and interaction. The purchaser's skill at playing the gameis largely irrelevant because the outcome is determined not by theplayer's performance but rather by whether the lottery gaming unitpurchased is a winning unit or not. Further, the lottery or gamingcomponent is separate from the arcade game and the purchaser can findout if they have won prior to commencing the game, or alternatively, thepurchaser must wait to the end of the game to find out if they have beensuccessful in the lottery game.

What is needed is method and apparatus for playing a lottery game thatpresents the purchaser with an entertaining and challenging arcade stylegame, the outcome of which is determined by the purchaser's physical andmental skill, which also simultaneously incorporates and integrates thelottery game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for playinga lottery style game.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises amethod having the following steps of:

(a) offering a player at least one gaming token at a fixed price pertoken, each such token providing a predetermined probability of winninga monetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning anon-monetary prize; and

(b) engaging the player in an arcade style game involving theapplication of physical or mental skill, the arcade game adapted toallow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game byincorporating a non-monetary prize into the play of the arcade stylegame;

wherein the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery stylegame and the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independentof each other.

In one embodiment the outcome of the lottery style game is partiallyrevealed to the player upon the player achieving certain milestones inthe arcade style game. In a further embodiment, the player is offeredadditional gaming tokens upon the player achieving certain milestones inthe arcade style game. In an embodiment, the milestones compriseincremental cumulative amounts of points scored by the player in thearcade style game. In one embodiment, a fixed number of the gamingtokens are secretly pre-assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetaryprize, or both. In another embodiment, the non-monetary prizes are inthe form of bonuses that enhance the player's performance in the arcadestyle game. In a further embodiment, the gaming tokens may compriseelectronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lotterycards. In one embodiment, the outcome of at least one electronicscratch-and-win lottery card or electronic pull-tab lottery card isrevealed to the player upon the player achieving certain milestones inthe arcade style game. In an embodiment, the method comprises thefurther step of providing a display to the player of a summary of theoutcome of the lottery style game at the termination of the arcade stylegame.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a methodhaving the following steps of:

(a) offering a player at least one electronic scratch-and-win lotterycard or electronic pull-tab lottery card at a fixed price per card, eachsuch card providing a predetermined probability of winning a monetaryprize, and a predetermined probability of winning a non-monetary prize;

(b) engaging the player in an arcade style game involving theapplication of physical or mental skill, the arcade style game adaptedto allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game byincorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of the arcade stylegame;

(c) partially revealing the outcome of the lottery style game as theplayer reaches certain milestones in the arcade style game; and

(d) displaying a summary of the outcome of the lottery style game at thetermination of the arcade style game;

wherein the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery stylegame and the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independentof each other.

In one aspect of the present invention, the invention comprises anapparatus for playing an electronic lottery style game comprising:

(a) a gaming token containing data indicating whether the token has beenassigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary prize, such data beingunrecognizable to the player such that the player does not know whetherthey have acquired a winning gaming token prior to playing an arcadestyle game;

(b) a processor for receiving and analyzing the data contained in thegaming token and the processor simultaneously generating an arcade stylegame involving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcadestyle game being adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play thelottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into theplay of the arcade style game;

(c) input means for the player to play the arcade style game; and

(d) a display for displaying the arcade style game and the lottery stylegame. wherein the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lotterystyle game and the outcome of success in the arcade style game areindependent of each other.

In one embodiment, the display, processor and input means comprises acomputing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of an exemplary embodimentwith reference to the accompanying simplified, diagrammatic, not toscale drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a method of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

For the purpose of this patent application, the following words shallhave the defined meanings set forth below:

1. An “arcade game style game” shall mean an electronic game requiringsome physical or mental skill that is similar in nature to the gamesplayed upon personal computing devices, or upon coin-operatedentertainment machines, typically installed in businesses such asrestaurants, bars, and video arcades. Examples of well-known arcadestyle games include video games or pinball machines.

2. A “lottery style game” shall mean a game of chance in which the goalof the player is to win monetary prizes whereby tokens are distributedor sold, with the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for playing alottery style game. The method may be practiced using any electronicdevice having processing and display means including consoles in agaming hall, stand-alone electronic consoles (in locations such as hotellobbies or bars), or on personal computing devices. The method can bepracticed using locally, or remotely, networked processing and displaysystems, and can be practiced utilizing a connection to the Internetwith a personal computing device. The method and apparatus will bedescribed in the context of a console in a gaming hall, however itshould be understood that the following description would haveapplication to the playing in the other environments described above.

As shown in FIG. 4 the player first sets up an account. This can beachieved by requiring the player to a physically visit a cashier, oralternatively the player can establish an account electronically throughany type of appropriate secure interactive information input process asis commonly utilized in electronic commerce. Data about the player mayalso be collected at this point which can be later used to generate userstatistics and marketing information. Upon establishing an account, theplayer is assigned a player number and is assigned a password. Theplayer then attends at a console that comprises a displays means and aninput means. The player enters the assigned player number and password.The display means can be any suitable form of electronic display such ascomputer monitors. The console may have its own processor, oralternatively it may be connected to a server that is connected to acentral processor. The input means can be in any suitable form commonlyused in the art such as a keys or an interactive touch screen. Theplayer is then prompted to initiate game play. Upon selecting the gameplay option; the display presents the player with three furtherselection choices. These can be presented to the player as icons on thedisplay as shown in FIG. 1.

One option is to ‘exit’, thereby ending game play and exiting out of thegame play mode. After exiting, the player can cash out any credit intheir account, or can leave any credit in their account for future use.

Another selection choice is a ‘help’ option. Selection of this optionprovides the player with a display of instructions about the arcadestyle game and the lottery style game. The player is free to exit out ofthe help display option at any time by making the appropriate selection.Upon exiting from the help display, the player will be returned to thedisplay providing the original three selection options.

The final selection choice is the ‘play’ option to play the arcade stylegame. Upon making this selection, the player is offered the opportunityto purchase access to an arcade style game and the purchaser is alsooffered the opportunity to purchase at least one gaming token for thelottery style game for a fixed amount as depicted in FIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, a display allows the player to track purchases by showing thebalance of credit in their electronic account. A fixed number of thegaming tokens that are available for purchase by the player arepre-assigned monetary prizes or non-monetary prizes. Thus, the playerhas a predetermined probability of succeeding in the lottery style game.The number of gaming tokens that the player may purchase at any time canbe controlled by the vendor. The vendor will also predetermine how manygaming tokens are winners, thereby fixing the probability of winning.The probability of winning money can be communicated to the player ifdesired. Each gaming token contains data indicating whether it has beenassigned a monetary prize, a non-monetary prize, both, or neither. Theplayer is unable to decipher such information and is not able to findout if they have acquired winning or losing tokens until they engage ingame play. It should be understood that the gaming tokens describedherein may comprise electronic units containing the requisite data thatmay be deciphered by a processor, not necessarily physical tokens. Toprevent fraud and for other security reasons, the data contained in thegaming tokens may be encrypted, coded, password protected or securedusing such other suitable means as would be used by one skilled in theart.

The gaming tokens may be displayed to the player in any suitable andvisually stimulating form commonly used in the electronic lottery andgaming industry. Types of displays will include electronicscratch-and-win lottery cards, and electronic pull-tab lottery cards. Aswith paper scratch-and-win lottery cards and paper pull-tab cards, theplayer is able to see the concealed electronic scratch-and-win cards andthe electronic pull tab cards however, the player has no indication asto whether they are they are winning cards until the relevant portion isrevealed. As will be discussed in more detail below, the outcome of theelectronic cards is gradually revealed to the player as they progresswith the playing of the arcade game.

After purchasing game tokens, the player then commences play of thearcade style game. Although the types of arcade style game may vary, ineach case the player will accumulate points for completing the taskspresented in the arcade style game. The tasks require the application ofphysical or mental skill. If the player accumulates enough points withinthe fixed time period, they advance a level whereby they are affordedmore time to play the arcade style game and are presented with differingtasks, or the same tasks at an increased level of difficulty. Uponadvancing a level, the player can also be offered the opportunity toacquire additional gaming tokens. If the player has not accumulatedenough points within a predetermined time period then the game willterminate. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment the arcade style gamewill comprise a game in which the player must arrange a linear set ofthree or more symbols of the same colour in vertical, horizontal ordiagonal lines. Points are awarded to the player upon completion of thedesired arrangements and upon the accumulation of a certain number ofpoints, the player advances to the next level of play, as shown in FIG.3.

It can be understood that a skilled player will be able to advance togreater levels in the arcade style game than an unskilled player, andmay experience greater playing time if additional game time is awardedfor reaching subsequent levels. However, no matter how skilled theplayer is, the arcade style game will be designed so that eventuallytime will run out and the arcade style game will end. At this point theplayer is offered the option of paying to continue the play of thearcade style game from the point where the game ended, or they can electto start a new game from the beginning. In either case, the player willbe offered the opportunity to purchase more gaming tokens. As shown inFIG. 3, the display provides the player with the ability to track howmuch money they are spending, thereby allowing them to monitor thecredit level in their account. Alternatively, at the end of the arcadestyle game, the player can elect to exit the game mode and can cash outany credit in their electronic account if they wish to.

It is also possible that the player will be able to purchase additionalgaming tokens at any point during the playing of the arcade style game.

During the playing of the arcade style game, upon the achievement ofcertain milestones, the outcome of the lottery style game will bepartially revealed to the player. The milestones can include;accumulating a certain number of points, completing certain taskspresented in the arcade style game, or completing tasks in a particularsequence. For example, if prior to commencing the arcade style game, theplayer has purchased nine electronic scratch-and-win cards, onepossibility would be to reveal the cards in sets of three. As the firstmilestone is reached the first three cards are randomly selected and arevirtually revealed to the player thereby allowing the player to seewhether they are winning cards or not. The same process is repeated assecond and third milestones are reached. The number and types ofmilestones can be varied to account for the number of gaming tokenspurchased, and to account for the skill level of the player. Further,the manner in which the outcome of the lottery game is revealed to theplayer can be adjusted or varied to maximize excitement. It is desirableto maximize player interest by having the outcome of all gaming tokensrevealed prior to the termination of the arcade style game, however aplayer could also bank gaming tokens for use in subsequent arcade stylegames if they have not all been revealed during the arcade style game.The player can also be presented with the option of revealing any leftover gaming tokens at the conclusion of the arcade style game. In thismanner, the outcome of success in the arcade style game will affect theplaying of the lottery style game however, the probability of winning inthe lottery style game will not be affected by the outcome of success inthe arcade style game. For example, a good arcade style game player mayreach the milestones faster, thereby resulting in the faster disclosureof the outcome of the lottery style game. However, the probability ofwinning in the lottery style game remains unchanged.

Winning game tokens will correspond with varying monetary prizes,however non-monetary prizes will also be assigned to a certain number ofgaming tokens. If a gaming token is a monetary winning token, the valueof the prize will be displayed to the player and the monetary prizeamount will be directly credited to the player's electronic account. Atthe end of the arcade game the player will be advised of the currentbalance in their account, and how much was won during the playing of thearcade type game. Game tokens having non-monetary prizes will reward theplayer with arcade game bonuses to enhance the player's performance inthe arcade game. Such bonuses will include; additional time to play thearcade game, additional lives, additional points, or features that makethe tasks presented in the arcade game easier for the player. In thismanner, the non-monetary prizes will affect the playing of the arcadestyle game, however the outcome of success at winning money in thelottery style game has no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of thearcade style game. For example, a player could perform extremely well inthe arcade style game yet win little or no money in the lottery, andconversely, a player could win lots of money in the lottery style game,yet perform very poorly in the arcade style game. More simply stated, aplayer could win monetarily at the lottery style game whilst losing atthe arcade style game, and vice versa. The independent outcomes arisefrom the fact that the identity of the winning gaming tokens arepredetermined. A purchaser that acquires games tokens and that plays thearcade style game has a certain probability of succeeding in the lotterystyle game regardless of how they perform in the arcade style game.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications,adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can bemade without departing from the scope of the invention claimed herein.The various features and elements of the described invention may becombined in a manner different from the combinations described orclaimed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A method of playing an electronic lottery style game, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) offering a player at least one gaming tokenat a fixed price per token, each such token providing a predeterminedprobability of winning a monetary prize, and a predetermined probabilityof winning a non-monetary prize; and (b) engaging the player in anarcade style game involving the application of physical or mental skill,the arcade style game adapted to allow the player to simultaneously playthe lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prize into theplay of the arcade style game; whereby the probability of winning amonetary prize in the lottery style game and the outcome of success inthe arcade style game are independent of each other.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the outcome of the lottery style game is partiallyrevealed to the player upon the player achieving certain milestones inthe arcade style game.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the player isoffered additional gaming tokens upon the player achieving certainmilestones in the arcade style game.
 4. The method of claims 2 or 3wherein the milestones comprise incremental cumulative amounts of pointsscored by the player in the arcade style game.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein a fixed number of the gaming tokens are secretly pre-assigned amonetary prize or a non-monetary prize, or both.
 6. The method of claim5 wherein the non-monetary prizes are in the form of bonuses thatenhance the player's performance in the arcade style game.
 7. The methodclaim 1 wherein the gaming tokens comprise electronic scratch-and-winlottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards.
 8. The method ofclaim 7 wherein the outcome of at least one electronic scratch-and-winlottery card or electronic pull-tab lottery card is revealed to theplayer upon the player achieving certain milestones in the arcade stylegame.
 9. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of providinga display to the player of a summary of the outcome of the lottery stylegame at the termination of the arcade style game.
 10. A method ofplaying an electronic lottery style game, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) offering a player at least one electronic scratch-and-winlottery card or electronic pull-tab lottery card at a fixed price percard, each such card providing a predetermined probability of winning amonetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning anon-monetary prize; (b) engaging the player in an arcade style gameinvolving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcade stylegame adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lotterystyle game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of thearcade style game; (c) partially revealing the outcome of the lotterystyle game as the player reaches certain milestones in the arcade stylegame; and (d) displaying a summary of the outcome of the lottery stylegame at the termination of the arcade style game; whereby theprobability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game andthe outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of eachother.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the player is offeredadditional electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronicpull-tab lottery cards upon the player achieving certain milestones inthe arcade style game.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein a fixed numberof the electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tablottery cards are secretly pre-assigned a monetary prize or anon-monetary prize, or both.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein thenon-monetary prizes are in the form of bonuses that will enhance theplayer's performance in the arcade style game.
 14. An apparatus forplaying an electronic lottery style game comprising: (a) a gaming tokencontaining data indicating whether the token has been assigned amonetary prize or a non-monetary prize, such data being unrecognizableto the player such that the player does not know whether they haveacquired a winning gaming token prior to playing an arcade style game;(b) a processor for receiving and analyzing the data contained in thegaming token and the processor simultaneously generating an arcade stylegame involving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcadestyle game being adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play thelottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into theplay of the arcade style game; (c) input means for the player to playthe arcade style game; and (d) a display for displaying the arcade stylegame and the lottery style game; whereby the probability of winning amonetary prize in the lottery style game and the outcome of success inthe arcade style game are independent of each other.
 15. The apparatusof claim 14 wherein the non-monetary rewards are in the form of bonusesthat will enhance the player's performance in the arcade style game. 16.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the gaming tokens comprise electronicscratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards. 17.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the display, processor and input meanscomprises a computing device.